Impact of Antenatal Depression on the Birth Outcomes

Paper

Saturday, 22 July 2006

This presentation is part of : Psychiatric/Mental Health Issues and Initiatives

Chung H. Chen, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able to identify the impact of antenatal depression on birth outcomes.
Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to add the knowledge of antenatal depression.

Few studies have explored the influence of antenatal depression on birth outcomes. The main purpose of this study is to assess the effects of antenatal depression on birth outcomes in southern Taiwan. A total of 182 pregnant women during their second trimester and 269 women during their third trimester were recruited as a convenience sample. Three instruments were used to collect data: the Demographic Data Form, the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Delivery Record. Quantitative data analysis showed that low satisfaction level of marriage life was significant factor influencing antenatal depression (EPDS³10) in the second or third trimester. Pregnant women whose antenatal depressions were detected during their second trimester had higher antenatal complications than the nondepressed women. However, the participants’ antenatal depression had no significant effect on gestational age of newborn, type of delivery, the use of intrapartal analgesia or vacuum, newborn’s birth weight or Apgar scores, and neonatal complications.
Keywords: Antenatal depression, Birth outcome

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